PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Backs need to step up in passing game

Patriots running backs weren't much of a factor in their 42-27 season-opening loss to Kansas City.

Glen Farley The Enterprise @GFarley_ent

Where were the backs?

Where the passing game is concerned, it’s fair to add that to the long list of questions that emerged from the Patriots’ embarrassing 42-27 season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 7.

The Patriots’ running backs were targeted by quarterback Tom Brady only eight of the 36 times he threw the ball and accounted for only four of his 16 completions for a mere 38 of his 267 yards passing in the loss.

James White caught three passes in five targets for 30 yards, Rex Burkhead made one reception in three targets for 8 yards and that was the extent of the backfield’s contributions to the Patriots’ passing game.

Mike Gillislee may not be much of a pass-catching threat, but where was that element of the game that was anticipated when this stable of backs was assembled?

There’s White, who set a Super Bowl record with 14 receptions in the Patriots’ 34-28 overtime win over Atlanta seven months ago, the shifty Lewis, who averaged 3.8 catches per game over his first two seasons with the team and Burkhead, the offseason free agent acquisition from Cincinnati who flashed his dual-threat ability in carrying the ball seven times and catching three passes for 50 yards and a touchdown in last month’s 27-23 preseason loss at Houston?

“It starts with me,” Patriots offensive coordinator-quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels said in the opener’s aftermath. “I didn’t do a good enough job of putting us in position to do the things we needed to do consistently enough. All of the backs did some positive things. The game kind of eventually dictated that we go a certain direction with it. That’s how that played out, but we like our group. They all work hard and they’re all ready to go each week and we’re going to continue to try and get better at each position on our offense.”

With Julian Edelman out for the year (placed on season-ending injured reserve on Sept. 2 with a knee injury), Malcolm Mitchell lost for the time being (placed on IR on the day of the opener, not eligible to return to game action for eight weeks with a knee injury), and booth Danny Amendola (concussion, knee) and Matthew Slater (hamstring) ruled out of Sunday’s game at New Orleans, the need for the running backs to step to the forefront only figures to escalate going forward.

Given his versatility, might Burkhead, who had limited experience in the slot during his four years with the Bengals, be a candidate for that role?

“Whatever role the coaches want me to do, I’ll be more than happy to do that,” Burkhead said earlier this week.

“I think that’s the great thing about this team. Next guy’s up and you’ve got to be ready to go. We’re going to try and fill that role in whatever way we can and whatever the game plan is try to hone in on it, focus in on it so we’re ready to go Sunday.”